Podcast Summary: So Money with Farnoosh Torabi

Episode 1949 – Nate Berkus on Entrepreneurship, Design, and Financial Confidence

Release Date: February 25, 2026
Host: Farnoosh Torabi
Guest: Nate Berkus

Episode Overview

This episode features a republished conversation from the So Money archives between host Farnoosh Torabi and renowned interior designer and entrepreneur Nate Berkus. The discussion, though originally recorded over a decade ago, offers timeless wisdom. Farnoosh and Nate explore the intersections of money, design, and entrepreneurship, tackling financial philosophies, personal stories, business failures and successes, and how both home and money should support an authentic, meaningful life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nate's Professional Milestones and Personal Updates

• Celebrating the 20th anniversary of his design firm and the arrival of his daughter, Poppy.
  • “Twenty years into the design firm that I founded in Chicago... I think my team and I are exactly where we want to be, that our professional life is very much aligned with what our passions are. And I love that. And I think that's always been the secret to success.” – Nate Berkus (05:12)
• Pride in achieving alignment between personal, professional, and family life.

2. Design Philosophy & Access to Good Design

• Berkus emphasizes design should be accessible and personal for everyone.
  • On his long-standing Target collection:
    “Our home should be a place that we love and that they should tell our story and the way that we tell our story in our homes is through the things and the choices that we make and what we allow into them.” – Nate Berkus (06:32)
• The Target line aims to complement, not dictate, consumers' existing spaces.
  • “It's an opportunity for somebody to just turn the cart in the aisle and just smile because they see a vase or a picture frame or a color of a towel or a bedding that they really like and connect to and can see living with on a daily basis.” – Nate Berkus (07:45)

3. Home as a Story

• Homes should reflect who we are through meaningful pieces.
  • “You have to stand at your front door and say, this piece can come in... because I love it, and I want to see it every day.” – Nate Berkus (10:01)
• Authenticity and intentionality in design choices are fundamental.

4. Partnership & Collaboration in Design

• Berkus collaborates with his designer husband, Jeremiah; they value each other's opinions and see creative process as additive, never competitive.
  • “We never fight about design… there’s not one correct way to do something… That’s the beautiful part about design, that everyone is allowed to have an opinion, and everyone should have an opinion.” – Nate Berkus (11:00)

5. Money and Financial Philosophy

• Berkus' approach is rooted in financial confidence—he rejects fear-based money management.
  • “I’m not going to be afraid of money. I’m not going to be afraid of having it. I’m not going to be afraid of earning it. I’m not going to be afraid of making a mistake with it.” – Nate Berkus (13:10)
• Stresses the paralyzing effect of fear and the power of a mindful, abundant-oriented mindset.
  • “There’s two types of people in the world. The people who operate from a place of fear or the people who operate from a place of abundance... If I make a mistake, I’ll figure it out. I’ll be able to handle the consequences.” – Nate Berkus (16:19)

6. Money Stories & Lessons from Family

• Berkus credits his parents for modeling financial intrepidness, especially his mother, who transitioned to entrepreneurship without fear.
  • “My mother was an interior designer and an artist, and when she started a jewelry line, she went and bought what she needed for it. And she wasn't afraid that it would never sell...” (14:25)

7. Building a Business and Learning When to Ask for Help

• Early mistake: Trying to handle both creative and administrative sides of his business alone.
  • “I believed that I could do it all... And it was probably into my very first design project where I was like, this is a train wreck. I can't add. I am terrible with math, and I have no business doing this. I need help.” – Nate Berkus (26:41)
• Hired and retained the same accountant for 20 years.

8. Choosing Trusted Financial Advisors

• Importance of word-of-mouth, references, and gut instinct in selecting advisors.
  • “I do it the same way. I pick a dermatologist and a nanny. It's through word of mouth and through my gut instinct and through references that I check.” – Nate Berkus (28:28)
• Values open, honest dialogue with financial team.

9. Habits & Daily Practices Around Money

• Meticulously organizes the bills in his wallet as a sign of respect for money.
  • “I cannot have the bills in my wallet be disorganized. They all have to be facing the same way, and they all have to be in order in terms of the bills... if you're not organized with your money, it's a sign of not respecting your money.” – Nate Berkus (29:32, see also the episode opener at 02:27)

10. Fill-in-the-Blank Insights (Rapid-Fire Segment)

• If I won the lottery... “The first thing I would do is pay my taxes.” (31:19)
• One thing that makes my life easier or better: “Help. We have a nanny... I'm happy to pay someone [if] I could be shifting my focus onto something else.” (31:44)
• Biggest guilty pleasure: “Furniture and decoration... I buy so many things that now I have my own storefront on first dibs. So I sell the things I don't want anymore.” (32:19)
• Charitable giving: Favors no-kill animal shelters, notably P.A.W.S. in Chicago. (33:12)
• I'm so money because... “I keep my wallet organized.” (33:51)

11. Memorable Career Moment: Oprah’s Endorsement

• Oprah’s public recognition gave Nate a huge platform and responsibility, which he took seriously:
  • “Oprah lifted my hand and said, Nate Berkus. Remember his name. And I knew at that moment that I had a big responsibility and that I was also being given a huge gift.” – Nate Berkus (23:32)
• Maintained a strong work ethic and sense of responsibility to his audience and clients.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I cannot have the bills in my wallet be disorganized. They all have to be facing the same way and they all have to be in order in terms of the bills...”
  — Nate Berkus (02:27, 29:32)

• “I’m not going to be afraid of money... I’m going to just be very aware, and I’m also going to take the risks that I think and I truly believe will pay off for me.”
  — Nate Berkus (13:10)

• “There’s two types of people in the world. The people who operate from a place of fear or the people who operate from a place of abundance.”
  — Nate Berkus (16:19)

• “If I won the lottery tomorrow, let's say you want $100 million. The first thing I would do is pay my taxes.”
  — Nate Berkus (31:19)

• “I really am very conscious of how much time I devote to different things, because if it costs me more to do something and I could be shifting my focus onto something else, then I'm happy to pay someone to do it.”
  — Nate Berkus (31:55)

• “I'm so moneyed because I keep my wallet organized.”
  — Nate Berkus (33:51)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Nate’s “wallet habit” for respecting money: 02:27, 29:32
• Design philosophy and Target collaboration: 06:32–08:59
• Home reflecting personal story: 09:17–10:35
• Financial philosophy—choosing abundance over fear: 13:10–17:28
• Oprah origin story & what he learned from her: 18:06–19:37; 23:32
• Early entrepreneurial “failure”—trying to do it all: 26:41–27:45
• Choosing advisors—reference checks and gut instinct: 28:28
• Rapid-Fire ‘Fill in the Blanks’ segment: 31:19–33:51

Summary & Takeaways

Nate Berkus’ enduring success is rooted in authenticity, relentless curiosity, and a conscious, mindful approach to both design and financial life. He preaches respect for your money—down to how you arrange it in your wallet—along with taking calculated risks, seeking and trusting help, and shedding fear-driven thinking. Whether building a home, a business, or a relationship with money, Nate’s philosophy is clear: it should all be aligned with the life you want and a story that’s sincerely your own.

For more on Nate Berkus’ design philosophy and practical tips, check out his latest book, Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal.